Weapons of Mass Destruction: Intelligence Review Committee

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Attorney-General had access to intelligence related to weapons of mass destruction at any stage after the provision of the advice referred to in paragraph 374 of the Lord Butler of Brockwell's review of intelligence on weapons of mass destruction.

Lord Goldsmith: As stated in paragraph 367 of the Butler report, I was briefed on relevant intelligence issues in September 2002 and February 2003. In addition, I have seen a number of intelligence assessments produced by the Joint Intelligence Committee subsequent to the initial advice referred to in paragraph 374 of the Report.

Weapons of Mass Destruction: Intelligence Review Committee

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will list the meetings and discussions involving the Attorney-General referred to in paragraph 377 of the Lord Butler of Brockwell's Review of Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction stating the date of each discussion; who was present; or participated, in the conversations; and whether minutes were kept.

Lord Goldsmith: The information relating to the dates of and participants in the meetings concerns internal discussion and advice is withheld under exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Records were kept of some of these discussions.

Weapons of Mass Destruction: Intelligence Review Committee

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what date the advice given by the Attorney-General in paragraph 374 of the Lord Butler of Brockwell's Review of Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction was given; whether he had access to intelligence, including intelligence related to weapons of mass destruction, at that time, and, if not, how the Attorney-General assessed whether or not there was an imminent threat to the United Kingdom.

Lord Goldsmith: The information requested relating to the date of my legal advice referred to in paragraph 374 of the Butler Report concerns internal discussion and advice and is withheld under exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
	Prior to giving this advice I had seen some intelligence assessments relating to Iraq's possession of weapons of mass destruction. As stated in paragraph 374 of the Butler Report, I concluded that on the basis of the information I had seen, there would be no justification for the use of force against Iraq on grounds of self-defence against an imminent threat.

Weapons of Mass Destruction: Intelligence Review Committee

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In what ministerial capacity the Lord Falconer of Thoroton was present at the meeting of 13 March referred to in paragraph 381 of the Lord Butler of Brockwell's Review of Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Baroness Amos: Members of the Government have regular meetings and discussions with ministerial colleagues and others on a wide range of subjects.

Weapons of Mass Destruction: Intelligence Review Committee

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who in the Prime Minister's office asked the Attorney-General to put his view of the legal position in writing, as referred to in paragraph 378 of the Lord Butler of Brockwell's Review of Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction; why his previous advice was considered insufficient by No. 10; and whether the Prime Minister was aware of the request.

Baroness Amos: Following the Attorney-General's meeting with Jonathan Powell, Sir David Manning and Baroness Morgan on 28 February 2003, Baroness Morgan, on behalf of the Prime Minister, asked the Attorney-General to provide his advice in writing.

Weapons of Mass Destruction: Intelligence Review Committee

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish in full the correspondence quoted in part in paragraphs 383 and 384 of the Lord Butler of Brockwell's Review of Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Baroness Amos: To the extent that parts of the correspondence referred to in paragraph 383 of the Butler report have not been disclosed, it is subject to legal professional privilege and therefore withheld under exemption 4 of the code of practice on access to government information. The substance of the letter from the Prime Minister's Private Secretary to the Legal Secretary to the Attorney-General is set out in paragraph 384.

Weapons of Mass Destruction: Intelligence Review Committee

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who was present at the meeting of 13 March referred to in paragraph 381 of the Lord Butler of Brockwell's Review of Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction; what was the purpose of the meeting; who convened it; whether minutes were kept; and whether the advice given by the Attorney-General referred to in paragraph 374 of the report was discussed.

Baroness Amos: As set out in the Butler report the meeting on 13 March 2003 was attended by the Attorney-General, Lord Falconer, and Baroness Morgan. No record of the meeting was made, but the Attorney-General's view of the legal position was set out in a Written Answer in Parliament on 17 March 2003.

Weapons of Mass Destruction: Intelligence Review Committee

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who was present at the Meeting of 28 February referred to in paragraph 378 of the Lord Butler of Brockwell's Review of Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction; what was the purpose of the Meeting; who convened it; whether minutes were kept; and whether the advice given by the Attorney-General on 7 March 2003 was discussed.

Baroness Amos: As set out in the Butler report, the meeting on 28 February 2003 was attended by the Attorney-General, Jonathan Powell, Sir David Manning and Baroness Morgan. No record of the meeting was made.

Ulster Scots Academy

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 26 May (WA 133) concerning the Ulster-Scots Agency, how much has been paid by the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure to consultants for advice on the proposed academy in each year since 2000.

Baroness Amos: I have nothing further to add to the answer given on 26 May (WA 133) and 6 April (WA 219).

Southern Sudan

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What response they have made to the current emergency in the Upper Nile in southern Sudan; how many people have died or are displaced as a result of fighting around Malakal; and what effect this will have on the overall peace agreement in the south.

Baroness Amos: DfID is very concerned by reports that civilians have been targeted and that thousands of people have been displaced in the Upper Nile region of southern Sudan. DfID is following the situation closely and we are in contact with all parties in the area, including the verification and monitoring team (VMT), which is reponsible for investigating and reporting on breaches of the cessation of hostilities.
	DfID raised the matter with the Sudanese Foreign Minister during his visit to London on 11 May and EU Heads of Mission, including our ambassador in Khartoum, visited on 27 May. Over £270,000 has been provided to non-governmental organisations to provide for the estimated 48,000 displaced persons in the region.
	Unfortunately at this time there is no information regarding the number of conflict-related deaths. DfID is encouraging all parties to respect the terms of the ceasefire and are calling on the parties to continue to work together so that a comprehensive peace agreement can be signed in the next few months. Notably in the south, DfID is pressing for dialogue between the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), other southern groups and the governmnent, in preparation for the broad-based regional government and institutions envisaged in the Machakos Protocol.

Ulster-Scots Agency

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 22 June (WA 114), whether they approved of the Ulster-Scots Agency's work in the United States.

Baroness Amos: Approval of the work of the Ulster-Scots Agency is a matter for members of the board of the North-South Language Body with responsibility for the exercise of the functions of the body through the agency. The agency did not seek government approval for the work of the agency in the United States of America.

Ulster-Scots Agency

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they support a policy operated by the Ulster-Scots Agency of providing resources and support to groups to make 12 July celebrations into a tourist attraction; and, if so, why the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure removed funding from the agency's requested budget for 2004 for that purpose. [HL
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Baroness Amos: I have been advised by the Ulster-Scots Agency that it does not have a policy with the sole or explicit objective of promoting tourism.

Ulster-Scots Language and Culture

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 23 June (WA123), why bodies representing Ulster-Scots culture do not receive the same level of resources as bodies representing Irish cultures.

Baroness Amos: I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave on 23 June 2004 (WA123). I have nothing further to add.

Northern Ireland: Sport Funding

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure plans to provide funding and resources to:
	(a) association football;
	(b) rugby union;
	(c) cricket; and
	(d) Gaelic Athletic Association games;
	if so, whether in each case there is a cross community requirement; if so, what that requirement is; and how it will be monitored.

Baroness Amos: The Sports Council for Northern Ireland is responsible for the development of sport in Northern Ireland, including the distribution of funding to individual sports. The sports council makes funding available, to (a) association football (including resources under the soccer strategy process), (b) rugby union; (c) cricket; and (d) Gaelic Athletic Association games under existing funding arrangements. Any funding beyond this will be a matter for the sports council.
	As the organisations listed are voluntary organisations, they do not have any statutory duty under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998). However, the sports council requires all organisations which it funds to have an equity policy in place in their constitution/articles of association. Each of these organisations has provided the sports council with a copy of their equity policy.

Tourism Ireland: Funding

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What funding Tourism Ireland has sought each year since 2000; how much was agreed each year; whether indicative budgets were set; if so, for how much; and when.

Baroness Amos: In 2001 Tourism Ireland Ltd (TIL) drew down set-up funding of £1.218 million. The TIL draft annual operating plans for 2002, 2003 and 2004 sought indicative funding of £29.7 million, £29.8 million and £38.1 million respectively.
	The North-South Ministerial Council (NSMC) approved the operating plans and recommended budget allocations as follows:
	2002—£29.65 million
	2003—£30.238 million 1
	2004—£36.27 million
	1 An additional allocation of £3.879 million for specific agreed marketing initiatives was also approved by the NSMC.

North/South Implementation Bodies

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any of the Cross-Border Implementation Bodies will be ceasing policies and areas of activity due to a lack of funding as a result of the May 2004 budgets; and, if so, which bodies; and
	What funds those Cross-Border Implementation Bodies, which have ceased areas of activity due to lack of funding in 2004, sought for 2004; and what funds they were granted.

Baroness Amos: None of the North/South Implementation Bodies has ceased policies or areas of activities due to a lack of funding as a result of the 2004 budgets.

North/South Implementation Bodies

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any of the Cross-Border Implementation Bodies have indicated any intention to apply for extra funding during 2004; if so, which bodies have applied; how much they applied for; and for what purpose.

Baroness Amos: To date, none of the North/South Implementation Bodies have applied for extra funding in 2004. The Ulster-Scots Agency, which forms part of the Language Body, has indicated an intention to apply for extra funding in 2004, but has not yet submitted detailed proposals.

Northern Ireland: Loyal Order Parades

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 12 July (WA 118) concerning the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, why the only Loyal Order parade listed in the annual events listing brochure for 2004, issued by the Board, was the Maiden City Festival.

Baroness Amos: The purpose of the annual events listing brochure is to provide a representative sample of major events in Northern Ireland. The Maiden City Festival was regarded as a representation of the Loyal Order celebrations and was therefore included in the brochure for 2004.
	The Northern Ireland Tourist Board maintains a database record of the major Loyal Order parades and ensures that these are published on its consumer website.
	NITB has recently met with the Grand Orange Lodge to examine ways to work with it to review the promotion of the 12 July parades. NITB is currently developing detailed criteria for listing of events.

North/South Language Body

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will give an undertaking that future allocations of funding to agencies in the Language Implementation Board in Northern Ireland will only take place after consultation and agreement with the agencies concerned.

Baroness Amos: I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave on 20 May 2004 (WA 95). It may not always be possible to reach agreement with the North/South Language Body on its budget.

Northern Ireland Civic Forum

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they arrived at the figure of £516,000 funding for the year 2004–05 for the suspended Northern Ireland Civic Forum.

Baroness Amos: Provision was made in the 2004–05 NI Estimates for a full year's funding for the civic forum on the basis of the forum's business plan prior to suspension. As I explained to the noble Lord during the Grand Committee debate on 20 July this was done to ensure that resources would be available in the event of early restoration. Resources will be reallocated during the year in the event of continuing suspension.

Northern Ireland Legislation: Definitions

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What the term "reflective of the community in Northern Ireland" (as used in the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2004) means; whether the term is the same as representative of the community in Northern Ireland; and how and in what way the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission was representative of the community in Northern Ireland.

Baroness Amos: There is no statutory definition of "representative" or "reflective". The Secretary of State has a duty under Section 68(3) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 to, as far as practicable, secure that the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commissioners, as a group, are representative of the community in Northern Ireland.
	The Government are satisfied that in making broadly-based appointments to the commission, they have fulfilled their duty under Section 68(3).

Northern Ireland Policing Board

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the Police Board for Northern Ireland requiring councils to add candidates for interview for District Police Partnerships, after the shortlisting process has been completed; and whether such a practice could properly be applied in all public appointment processes in Northern Ireland.

Baroness Amos: In accordance with paragraph 6(2) of Schedule 3 to the Police (NI) Act 2000 the Secretary of State may issue a code of practice containing guidelines as to the exercise by district councils and the Northern Ireland Policing Board of their functions in the nomination and appointments process for independent members of District Policing Partnerships. Under this code which issued in August 2002, and now Section 14 of Police (NI) Act 2003, the board shall secure that the board shall so far as practicable secure that the membership of the District Policing Partnerships is representative of the community in the council area.
	In the case of the Dungannon and South Tyrone DPP the policing board decided to hold a supplementary competition to achieve a pool of appointable candidates for a DPP to be established that would be representative. This was no fault of the district council. Candidates from this supplementary competition are in addition to those nominated by the council to the policing board in December 2002.
	Arrangements for other public appointments are governed by their respective codes of practice where appropriate and OCPA guidelines.

Northern Ireland Policing Board

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they have taken in response to the Police Board for Northern Ireland imposing a late applicant for interview, after the shortlisting process had been completed, for the Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council's District Police Partnership.

Baroness Amos: The management of the appointment process for the independent members of District Policing Partnerships is a matter for the Northern Ireland Policing Board. A team of impartial assessors was appointed by the board to oversee the process. Their role was to assess the process for openness, transparency, probity and effectiveness, to ensure compliance with OCPA guidance and the code of practice for the appointment of independent members produced by the NIO, and to report to the Northern Ireland Policing Board.
	The impartial assessors' report was published in June 2003. They found the appointment process to be fair, robust, open and transparent. However they did make a recommendation about the handling of late applications. This recommendation will be reflected in the NIO's code of practice which is currently being revised prior to issue for consultation.

Belfast—London: Air Transport Services

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which airlines now provide a regular daily service of flights between Belfast and either London Heathrow, London Gatwick or London City airports; whether there is fair and adequate competition among these airlines; and by what amounts over each of the past three years Northern Ireland Office departments have fostered that competition by supporting each airline in respect of Ministerial and Civil Service usage.

Baroness Amos: Research indicates that the airlines provide a regular daily service of flights between Belfast and the named airports. BMI fly between Belfast and London Heathrow, Flybe between Belfast and both London Gatwick and London City and Easyjet between Belfast and London Gatwick.
	Air transport services are provided by the private sector and it is government policy to let the market regulate itself with regard to competition.
	Northern Ireland Civil Service Departments do not have a direct contractual relationship with any airline. Travel requirements to GB destinations are typically booked through a contracted travel agent. This agent provides a service which identifies the best value air fare to meet the specific business need which includes consideration of flights by all airlines flying to the required destination.
	The amounts of fares paid over the last three years for each of the respective airlines to each named destination is set out in the table below:
	
		
			   2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
			 Destination Airline £ £ £ 
			 London Heathrow bmi 1,224,102 1,783,093 2,183,271  
			 London Gatwick 
			  flybe 429,327 325,179 201,961 
			  easyjet n/a 939 13,571  
			 London City flybe 12,989 43,974 14,124 
		
	
	These figures relate only to single sector flights booked through the contracted travel agency services and do not include any journeys undertaken and which were booked through other channels, as to obtain this information would be at disproportionate cost to departments.

Northern Ireland Departments: Expenditure on Consultants

Lord Glentoran: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much has been spent on consultants since June 2001 by each government department in Northern Ireland.

Baroness Amos: The amount spent on consultants since April 2001 by each government department in Northern Ireland is as follows:
	
		
			  
			  2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
			 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development 1,040,000 851,000 1,119,000 
			 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure 653,245 525,576 504,334 
			 Department of Education 179,734 657,954 774,893 
			 Department of Employment and Learning 913,342 411,635 383,762 
			 Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment 4,079,000 3,866,000 4,074,000 
			 Department of Finance and Personnel 2,062,533 1,664,398 2,533,049 
			 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety 1,077,183 869,385 682,170 
			 Department of the Environment 133,500 18,800 514,300 
			 Department of Regional Development 639,000 352,000 1,092,000 
			 Department of Social Development 1,223,000 1,809,000 1,976,000 
			 Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister 263,780 823,460 1,250,862 
			 Northern Ireland Office 834,652 2,421,395 2,170,315 
			 Total 13,098,969 14,270,603 17,074,685 
		
	
	Information on expenditure from June 2001 is not readily available as figures are compiled on a financial year basis and therefore the figures provided in the answer are for April 2001 to March 2004.

Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will detail the amounts of public money paid to the Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders for the purchase of buildings; and what is the present status of the property purchased.

Baroness Amos: The Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NIACRO) is core funded by government and is one of the key service providers for the criminal justice system.
	To necessitate a move from their current location, NIACRO have purchased a central Belfast site on which a developer is currently constructing a new building which NIACRO will purchase on completion in December 2004.
	In March 2004 government made a strategic investment of £250,000 to NIACRO to contribute to the cost of the site. The title deed of the site has now passed to NIACRO. In relation to the purchase of the building, NIACRO is currently pursuing further opportunities for funding.

Northern Ireland: Teachers

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by the Lord President on 24 February (WA 41), whether it is their practice to advise those recruiting teachers for state schools that the equal opportunity employment policies in relation to religion and political opinion of the Northern Ireland Education and Library Boards are inapplicable due to the exemption of teachers from fair employment law.

Baroness Amos: I refer the noble Lord to my previous answer on 24 February 2004 (Official Report col. WA 41).

Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 29 June (WA 13) concerning Irish culture, whether they have plans to provide funding for Irish culture and language; if so, when they will do so; how much they plan to provide; through which body such funds will be provided; and whether business cases will be required.

Baroness Amos: Following approval of a business case it is planned that a broadcast fund of £12 million will be made available over a three-year period to support Irish language film and television production in Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland announced on 1 July 2004 that the Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission will administer the broadcast fund, which is expected to be operational by December 2004.

Northern Ireland: Primary School Funding

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether primary schools in Northern Ireland are funded by a similar formula to those in England; if not, what is the difference; and why such difference exists.

Baroness Amos: The system for funding primary schools in Northern Ireland is very similar to that of England, in that delegated budgets are determined by means of a formula developed and operated by the Education and Library Board (in England the Local Education Authority has this responsibility, under the Fair Funding scheme). In Northern Ireland, primary schools in the grant-maintained integrated sector are funded directly by the Department of Education.
	It is not possible to draw comparisons on differences in the funding formulae due to the differences in the levels of delegated responsibility, the different categories of schools, and other factors such as, for example, the relative size of schools and differing levels of social deprivation between the two countries.

Ulster Political Research Group

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 12 July (WA 118) concerning the North/South Ministerial Council Secretariat in Armagh, whether meetings were held with the Ulster Political Research Group, which included both Joint Secretaries; if so, when these meetings were held; where they were held; and for what purpose.

Baroness Amos: As was made clear in my answer of 12 July (WA 118), the individuals concerned attended these meetings in their capacity as officials of their respective administrations. The contacts concerned form part of the overall policy of community engagement endorsed by those administrations.

Northern Ireland: Civil Servants' Functions

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which senior civil servants in Northern Ireland are allowed to carry out activity within government other than that for which they hold an office; what are the other activities they carry out; and whether information could be supplied to Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Members of Parliament and Peers on who is working for what and when.

Baroness Amos: Northern Ireland civil servants are not holders of statutory offices with prescribed functions. Accordingly, they carry out any and all such functions as their employing Departments consider appropriate.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission: Chief Commissioner

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why they decided to advertise for a chief commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission who could be full or part-time; whether they have approached any individuals about applying for the position, directly or indirectly and, if so, whom; and whether they have decided upon the person they will appoint to the post.

Baroness Amos: No decision has been made as to whether the post of Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission should be full or part-time. The current chief commissioner is employed full time but, if the best candidate for the post is unable to give that time commitment, the Government are prepared to consider a part-time appointment.
	The appointments process for a new chief commissioner is ongoing. In addition to advertising in the press, we have sought the services of consultants, Saxton Bampfylde Hever, to carry out an executive search for candidates who may be interested in applying for the post. The consultants have contacted possible candidates and alerted them to the appointments process.
	It has not been decided who will be appointed to the post.

Congo Forests

Lord Eden of Winton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations they have made to the World Bank and to the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo about the re-zoning of the Congo forests and the expansion of industrial logging bearing in mind the need to consider the rights of the people living in the forests.

Baroness Amos: Officials from the Department for International Development (DfID) have been in dialogue with the World Bank about its assistance to the forestry sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). From discussions with the World Bank, DfID's understanding is that the World Bank is supporting a process designed to increase transparency within the forest sector in the DRC, and curb illegal logging.
	The World Bank is working with the Government of DRC and other partners to ensure that forest activities are carried out in a sustainable manner with due regard to protection of the environment, and with participation of all stakeholders—especially the poor. A pilot of participatory forest zoning is under preparation and will involve considerable consultation with people living in forest areas. Securing the rights of local people and promoting the participation of local and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in DRC is a particular focus.
	DfID has also discussed possible UK Government support to strengthen natural resource governance with the Transitional National Government (TNG) in DRC and have made the TNG aware of the need to meet the provisions of the Forest Code by ensuring the rights of local communities and ensuring commercial logging contributes to national development and poverty reduction.

Afghanistan

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	To what extent United Kingdom support for civil society and local non-governmental organisations in Afghanistan will play a part in that country's future democratic process: and what plans they have for such support after the presidential parliamentary elections.

Baroness Amos: The UK has helped local groups engage with the democratic process in a number of ways. DfID supported the development of the new constitution in 2003 (£500,000). This included an outreach programme to make the wider community aware of the purpose of the constitution and provided a reasonable understanding of its key features. (DfID is now funding both Swiss Peace (£500,000) and the United Nations (over £13 million), who work in partnership with local non-governmental organisations and civil society groups, to deliver civic education in Afghanistan. This campaign aims to enhance public understanding and awareness of the electoral process, promote positive attitudes towards democracy and encourage greater participation of the public. It will continue after the October presidential elections, in order to raise awareness for the parliamentary elections in April 2005.
	The UK is funding Action Aid (£157,680) to help increase both knowledge and awareness of the rights of women and women's participation in local governance in Afghanistan. Community-level women's groups are being established and small grants made available to help build the resources and confidence of women to work together to seek solutions to common problems. These activities are being supplemented and supported by training and information sharing at the provincial level and a nationwide research project looking at the role of women in local governance in Afghanistan.
	DfID also funds government-led national development programmes, which are being facilitated by a range of local non-governmental organisations. An example is the National Solidarity Programme (DfID contribution was £13 million over three years), which is building the capacity of hundreds of village development councils across Afghanistan and providing the resources they need to identify and address their own development priorities.

Development Fund for Iraq

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What responsibilities United Kingdom personnel and civil servants had for the failure of accounting systems and records within the Development Fund for Iraq, as reported in the KPMG audit; and what audits have been commissioned by the International Monitoring and Advisory Board.

Baroness Amos: Under UNSCR 1483, the occupying powers shared joint responsibility for the actions of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), including management of the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI). Within the CPA, the DFI account was managed by the Comptroller's Office. Following approval the Comptroller's Office handled payments from the DFI and made disbursements on the basis of directions from the authorised DFI signatories (Administrator, Administrator's Deputy and Comptroller). No UK personnel or secondees to the CPA served in the Comptroller's Office or were an authorised signatory over the DFI account.
	The International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB) oversees audits conducted by international accounting firms of (i) oil export sales, (ii) the accounting for the proceeds from oil export sales, (iii) the DFI financial statements, and (iv) the disbursement procedures for DFI resources. In March 2004 the IAMB approved the CPA's appointment of KPMG to conduct audits in two stages: first, for DFI activities through December 2003, which reported on 15 July, and, secondly, for the six-month period ended June 2004, which is currently under way.
	The IAMB has also taken a decision to conduct a special aduit of sole sourced contracts funded from the Development Fund for Iraq. The IAMB is expected to decide over the coming weeks if other special audits or investigations into the use of DFI assets are required.

Development Fund for Iraq

Baroness Williams of Crosby: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In light of recent reports by Iraq Revenue Watch, when full accounts will be published showing revenues, allocation and spending from the Development Fund for Iraq; and in particular whether they will request the United States administration to comply with International Advisory and Monitoring Board requests for information about payments of 1.5 billion dollars from the Development Fund to Halliburton.

Baroness Amos: A full audit of the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI) from 22 May 2003 to 31 December 2003 has been published, and is available on the International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB) website. KPMG is currently auditing the DFI from 1 January 2004 to 28 June 2004. The report will be published on completion. Information on revenues, allocation and spending from the DFI can be found on the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) website at http://www.cpa-iraq.org/budget/.
	The IAMB is proceeding with a special audit of Development Fund for Iraq sole sourced contracts. The results from this will be available in due course. The UK Government fully support the work of the IAMB.

Skills Training

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the opportunities and provisions for retraining individuals aged 25 to 40 who wish to change from desk-bound employment to trades where there are shortages, for example plumbing and carpentry.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: Improving adults' access to training, whether to develop their existing career or to move into an entirely new area, is one of the aims of the skills strategy.
	Our skills strategy set out further opportunities and reforms to enable individuals to retrain. It committed us to develop apprenticeships for adults to meet skills needs in response to employer demand. We and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) are working with sector skills councils (SSCs) that are either already licensed or expected to be so in the near future, to trial appropriate provision in a small number of sectors in England starting later this year.
	SSCs are influential employer bodies, licensed by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, in consultation with Ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, to tackle the skills and productivity needs of their sector throughout the UK. There are SSCs covering both plumbing (SummitSkills) and carpentry (ConstructionSkills).
	SummitSkills aims to support employers and employees to achieve appropriate recognition of their plumbing skills. Mature apprenticeships will be introduced in some parts of the UK during 2004. The local plumbing training centre will be able to advise on the provision in each area. For Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland there are differences in provision and the local centre will provide specific guidance.
	ConstructionSkills has identified addressing the issue of retraining adults as a priority but the work is still at a very early stage.
	The Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) programme was announced in 2001. These centres, which are based within colleges and other training providers, receive extra funding to enable them to develop high quality skills training to meet employers' current and future skills needs.
	There are now 260 centres offering adult learners a wide and diverse range of skills training for careers in many industries including construction (including plumbing and carpentry skills), which is currently served by 40 centres (15 per cent of the network). More centres will follow as the LSC is committed to creating a network of 400 centres by March 2006.
	From 2006, when the full network is in place, it will provide 40,000 qualifications and awards each year at levels 2 and 3, and 800 foundation degrees. It will have increased levels of employer engagement, with 20,000 employees benefiting from tailored provision paid for by their employers.

Dyslexia

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What arrangements they have to explore and evaluate all possible methods of providing support and help to children with dyslexia.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The department has no set procedure for evaluating methods of providing support for children with dyslexia, many of which are available as commercial services. We have, however, supported a number of research reviews by Dr Angela Fawcett of Sheffield University, which are available through our special educational needs website. We have also given grant in support of the British Dyslexia Association's international dyslexia conference, where different techniques are presented and discussed.

Special Educational Needs

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether their intention that it should be no more difficult to obtain a special school place than previously, contained in the statutory guidelines following their Special Education Needs Code of Practice, has been met; and, if so, on what evidence this conclusion is based.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 strengthened the right to a place in a mainstream school for children with statements of SEN while at the same time fully preserving parents' right to express a preference for a special school place. The statutory guidance Inclusive Schooling published in 2001 followed the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act and provided further explanation of, and guidance on, the operation of the statutory framework, setting out the reasonable steps that could be taken to ensure a child's inclusion in mainstream schools and providing examples of instances where inclusion may not be appropriate.
	The numbers of pupils in mainstream special schools remains broadly static with 88,930 pupils (full and part time) in 2003, down slightly from 89,790 in 2002.

Defence Procurement

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which defence procurement programmes, where the prime contractor is yet to be chosen, have a value over £1 billion.

Lord Bach: The following projects have formally passed their initial gate approval point, are expected to cost most than £1 billion, but have not yet down selected to a single preferred prime contractor:
	Indirect Fire Precision Attack—An incremental acquisition programme, which will provide a wide range of network-enabled munitions.
	Future Rapid Effects System—Will provide a family of medium weight armoured fighting vehicles, deployable by air and with levels of mobility, survivability, lethality, battlespace awareness and availability significantly greater than those vehicles currently in service.
	Support Vehicles—Replacing the current in-service cargo truck fleet.
	Defence Information Infrastructure (Future)—Will deliver a defence-wide information infrastructure to enable business process improvements across the MoD.
	UKMFTS—An incremental programme which will provide a future flying training system for all three services.

Defence Procurement

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will provide their 12-month forecast of procurement announcements of a value over £250 million.

Lord Bach: The Ministry of Defence does not maintain a rolling 12-month forecast of procurement announcements. The timing of announcements depends on a number of factors, including the time required for project approvals, progress on contract negotiations and how decisions relate to the departmental financial planning cycle. It is therefore difficult to predict these announcements accurately this far in advance. However, the following announcements are expected to be made over the next six months on equipment programmes that are valued in excess of £250 million:
	C vehicles—contract
	Defence information infrastructure (future)—Preferred bidder
	Support vehicles—way ahead
	Typhoon tranche two—main gate and contract
	Watchkeeper—main gate and contract
	Future carrier CV(F)—confirmation of alliancing arrangements
	FSTA—way ahead
	In addition, as my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence made clear in his Statement on 21 July, we are reviewing our capability requirements and plans for our future helicopter programme. We plan to make a further announcement in due course which will clarify the position.

Afghanistan: International Security Assistance Force

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many of the British troops serving in Afghanistan belong to the International Security Assistance Force under NATO command; and what additional United Kingdom forces will be sent at the time of the presidential elections in October.

Lord Bach: There are some 490 personnel from the United Kingdom's Armed Forces currently serving with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. As with any commitment, we keep the size and composition of our contribution to the ISAF under constant review. Plans are already in hand to increase the capacity of our Provincial Reconstruction Teams in north-west Afghanistan during the election period from within our forces already deployed in the area.

Army: Regimental Strength

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which Army regiments are under established strength; in each case, what is the full establishment; and what is the extent of any shortfall.

Lord Bach: Information on individual regiments is not held centrally in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Details of shortfalls as at 1 June 2004 against each arm and service are given below.
	
		
			 Arms/Service Requirement June 2004Strength June 2004Shortfall 
			 HouseholdCavalry/RoyalArmoured Corps 5,975 5,835 -140 
			 Royal Artillery 8,330 7,795 -535 
			 Royal Engineers 9,160 8,850 -310 
			 Infantry 26,185 25,840 -345 
			 Army Air Corps 2,105 1,860 -245 
			 Royal ArmyChaplainsDepartment 165 140 -25 
			 Royal LogisticsCorps 16,205 15,450 -755 
			 Royal ArmyMedical Corps 2,920 2,665 -255 
			 Royal Electrical &MechanicalEngineers 10,370 9,705 -665 
			 Adjutant GeneralCorps (Provost) 2,075 2,040 -35 
			 Royal ArmyVeterinary Corps 190 175 -15 
			 Royal ArmyDental Corps 420 395 -25 
			 Intelligence Corps 1,410 1,345 -65 
			 Army PhysicalTraining Corps 455 435 -20 
			 Queen Alexandra'sRoyal ArmyNursing Corps 1,035 805 -230 
			 Corps of ArmyMusicians 1,155 1,025 -130 
		
	
	Notes:
	The trained requirement for individual Arms and Service Directors is derived from the Regular Army strength requirement (excluding Gurkhas and FTRS) which is published in DASA's Tri-Service Monthly Publication (TSP) 3.
	All figures have been rounded to the nearest 5.

Iraq: Maritime Patrol Force

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the current strength of the Iraqi national maritime patrol force; and what vessels it has in service.

Lord Bach: The "Iraqi national maritime patrol force" includes both the Iraqi Riverine Patrol Directorate (IRPD) and the Iraqi Coastal Defence Force (ICDF).
	There are currently 459 personnel in the IRPD and the current holdings are as follows: Six Boston Whalers used for port security; six Searider Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs) used for riverine patrol and port security; four Dorys used for training and port security; two ballistic RIBs with a further two due mid-Aug and the final two due four to six weeks later.
	There are currently 265 personnel in the ICDF with a further 125 undergoing basic training. The IDCF is currently operating five 27m Predator class Patrol Boats each with a crew of 12. It also has five 22ft Arctic RIBs and this will increase to 10 in September. These will be used for boarding operations.

Iraq: Maritime Patrol Force

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the arrangements for co-operation between the Iraqi national maritime patrol force and coalition forces for the protection of offshore Iraqi oil installations.

Lord Bach: It is assumed that the reference to the "Iraqi national maritime patrol force" is to the Iraqi Riverine Patrol Directorate and the Iraqi Coastal Defence Force (ICDF).
	The ICDF does not yet have a capability to protect its oil installations at sea. It is currently being trained by coalition forces through the Coalition Maritime Assistance Training Team (CMATT) and will take responsibility for oil installation security when it is in a position to do so. Coalition forces currently have full responsibility for security of the oil installations and the firm arrangements for co-operation with the ICDF are being exercised through the CMATT.

Iraq: Martial Law and UK Armed Forces

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether members of the United Kingdom Armed Forces in Iraq may be called on to co-operate in the enforcement of martial law; and, if so, under whose rules of engagement would such forces operate.

Lord Bach: The Iraqi Interim Government does possess the authority to declare martial law. Should United Kingdom forces undertake law enforcement activity in support of such a declaration they would do so under the UK's extant Rules of Engagement at the time.

Gulf War 1990–91: Illnesses

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many war pensions are currently paid for still physically unexplained illnesses which are accepted as being related to service in the 1990–91 Gulf conflict.

Lord Bach: The information requested is not held. The war pension scheme provides no fault compensation for any illness or injury which is the result of any service in the Armed Forces regardless of theatre. Awards paid do not relate to particular diagnostic categories but reflect the assessed level of service related disablement.

Gulf War 1990–91: Illnesses

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many war pensions are in payment to members of the control group, made up of service men and women against whom the health of a group of Gulf War veterans of identical composition has been monitored.

Lord Bach: The requested information relates to personal data collected for medical research. I am therefore withholding the information under exemption 11 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Gulf War 1990–91: Illnesses

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many war pensions are now in payment for medical conditions related to service in the 1990–91 Gulf conflict.

Lord Bach: The information requested is not held. War pensions may be claimed at or beyond service termination and are paid for any disablement caused or made worse by an individual's service. They are not linked to a particular campaign and are not paid for specific diagnostic disorders. They reflect the assessed level of disablement due to all service related conditions. There are currently 2,690 war pensions in payment to people whose service includes the 1990–91 Gulf conflict.

Gulf War 1990–91: Illnesses

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the peer review process in relation to a link between service in the 1990–91 Gulf conflict and motor neurone disease began; and when they expect it to conclude.

Lord Bach: The Government have not commissioned research specifically into the prevalence of motor neurone disease (MND) among the United Kingdom veterans of the 1990–91 Gulf conflict.
	The Government are aware of two studies in the United States suggesting that US veterans who had deployed to the Gulf in 1990–91 were nearly twice as likely as their non-deployed counterparts to develop MND. The findings were published in the peer review literature last year. The small number of cases identified and the methodological constraints mean that the findings must be considered only as preliminary. Moreover, the increased risk identified was not uniform across all deployed personnel. The research does not link MND with any specific environmental factors associated with Gulf service.

Gulf War 1990–91: Illnesses

Lord Clement-Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish the letter relating to the independent public inquiry into Gulf War illnesses chaired by the Lord Lloyd of Berwick sent by a Ministry of Defence official on 14 July, as reported in the Guardian on 15 July, to members of the Depleted Uranium Oversight Board and others.

Lord Bach: The letter dated 14 July 2004 from the Director of the Ministry of Defence Veterans Policy Unit to researchers and review board members participating in the MoD programme of research will be placed in the Library of the House. The main purpose of the letter was to advise researchers of the Government's approach to Lord Lloyd's investigation and on the handling of research material which has yet to be published in order to maintain its scientific credibility.

Northern Ireland: Military Reductions

Lord Rogan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the statement by the Lord Bach on 21 July that the Ministry of Defence is withdrawing four regular battalions from Northern Ireland, what plans there are for the three Home Service Battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment.

Lord Bach: The Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service) battalions are fundamental to the Armed Forces' support of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. No decisions have been taken concerning their future role, as it is premature to come to conclusions about the composition of the long-term garrison.

Northern Ireland: Military Reductions

Lord Rogan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In the light of the International Monitoring Commission's second report, why they have announced plans for military reductions in Northern Ireland.

Lord Bach: The decision to transfer two largely rear-based battalions from the command of the General Officer Commanding (Northern Ireland) announced on 21 July has been possible due to the improving security situation in Northern Ireland.

Civil Servants: Company Directorships

Lord Rea: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Earl Howe on 1 February 1996 (WA 119) whether they they will publish an updated list of civil servants who have been allowed to accept directorships of companies, giving in each case the name of the civil servant, the date of the appointment and the name of the company; and whether they still consider it appropriate for civil servants to hold such posts.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Since the previous Answer in 1996, authority has been delegated to departments and agencies by the Civil Service Management Code to determine in what circumstances it is acceptable for their staff to accept directorships and as such no central list of directorships is maintained.
	Before assent is granted, consideration is given to conflicts of interest that might arise between the individual's areas of responsibility in the workplace and the proposed directorship.
	This Government encourage the interchange of individuals between the public, voluntary and private sector and the benefits that can result for all those involved.

NHS Wales: Temporary Nursing Staff

Lord Howie of Troon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why National Health Service Wales has decided not to use National Health Service Professionals for the supply of temporary nursing staff to National Health Service trusts in Wales; and what the key factors were in this decision.

Lord Evans of Temple Guiting: Full consideration was given to temporary nurse staffing issues in Wales, and in particular the significant costs incurred by the use of these staff, following the Audit Commission report, Brief Encounter—Getting the best from Temporary Nursing Staff.
	NHS trusts in Wales have full responsibility for the employment of temporary staff, including nurses, and make arrangements suited to their local needs rather than relying on another agent such as NHS Professionals. The National Assembly for Wales, in conjunction with Wales NHS trusts, is exploring the development and introduction of a single all-Wales contract that would reduce the levels of expenditure on agency nurse staffing in Wales.

Freedom of Information Act 2000

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to bring the Freedom of Information Act 2000 fully into force.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Freedom of Information Act 2000 comes fully into force on 1 January 2005.

Postal Voting

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many electors, representing what percentage of the electorate, were registered to vote by post for elections to the United Kingdom Parliament in each constituency in Wales at the latest date for which figures are available; and
	How many electors, representing what percentage of the electorate, were registered to vote by post for elections to the United Kingdom Parliament in each constituency in England at the latest date for which figures are available.

Lord Filkin: The independent Electoral Commission's report, Postal votes, proxy votes and spoilt ballot papers at the 2001 general election, provides the information sought for each constituency in England and Wales at the 2001 general election, and is the most recent information that is available for elections to the United Kingdom Parliament. The report can be obtained from the Electoral Commission and a copy is in the Library of each House.

Mr Quayym Raja

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the Court Service has not set a date for the case of Mr Quayym Raja to be referred to a judge for his minimum term of imprisonment to be reviewed, bearing in mind paragraph 28 of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in Easterbrook v United Kingdom, concerning the unreasonable delay in the fixing of tariffs.

Lord Filkin: The review of minimum terms set by the Home Secretary has been awaiting a guideline judgment from the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) and Practice Direction from the Lord Chief Justice. The guideline judgment was delivered on 8 July in the case of R v Sullivan & Others and the Practice Direction was issued on 29 July. I expect Mr Raja's case to be reviewed shortly.

United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish a list of those European states which have, and those which have not, accepted the First Optional Protocol to the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Lord Filkin: I understand that the following member states of the European Union have ratified the First Optional Protocol to the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. The United Kingdom has not accepted the protocol.

United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which civil and political rights are protected by the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and not by the European Convention on Human Rights.

Lord Filkin: These instruments cover broadly similar areas but they are worded differently and the covenant appears in some respects to have wider scope. For example, Article 26 of the covenant appears to have a significantly broader compass than Article 14 of the convention (which is confined to discrimination in relation to the convention rights). Interpretation of the scope and application of the rights contained in the convention is a matter for the European Court of Human Rights. The covenant comes under a Human Rights Committee appointed by the General Assembly of the United Nations.

Interdepartmental Review of International Human Rights Instruments

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish the results of their consultation on the Interdepartmental Review of International Human Rights Instruments.

Lord Filkin: The report on our Interdepartmental Review of International Human Rights Instruments was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 22 July. It is also available on my department's website at: http://www.dca.gov.uk/hract/ngo/review–2002.htm

Immigration Appellate Authority:Gloucester House

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who authorised the installation of a mounted television screen in the waiting area of Gloucester House, part of the Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA) at Hatton Cross in London, where appellants and legal representatives meet in conference; how much the installation cost; and what plans there are to install similar screens in other IAA courts.

Lord Filkin: The installation of a mounted plasma screen into the Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA) hearing centre at Gloucester House was authorised as part of the procurement and fit-out process for the building, which became operational on 23 June 2003. The cost for the provision, and installation, of the plasma screen in the public waiting area of Gloucester House was £5,875 inclusive of VAT. Similar equipment is planned for the public waiting area of York House at Hatton Cross. A standard television has also been installed in the public area of the IAA hearing centre in Surbiton. The installation of television equipment into public areas provides a large range of training and customer uses to the operational hearing centre and is a component of the IAA commitment to providing a high standard of customer facilities for users. Video information regarding the IAA and entertainment, via terrestrial television, is provided for users waiting for hearings. The provision of television equipment into public areas is decided on a centre-by-centre basis.

Department for Work and Pensions:Staffing Reductions

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will ensure that staffing reductions in the Department for Work and Pensions will not reduce access to the Social Funds at weekends or out-of-hours for the destitute; and
	Whether they have made an assessment of the likely effect of staffing reductions at the Department for Work and Pensions on the speed and accuracy of future benefit payments.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: We are still in the early stages of planning the announced staffing reduction and there are currently no proposals regarding specific areas of the business. However, one of our key priorities will be to ensure that we maintain the quality of our front line services, including those used by our most vulnerable customers, such as the Social Fund.

Department for Work and Pensions:Staffing Reductions

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How staffing reductions at the Department for Work and Pensions are likely to affect the rate of errors in the administration of the Child Support Agency.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: Staff reductions are intended to come from operational efficiencies following significant investment in new computer and telephony systems supplied to us by EDS. We anticipate an improvement in the accuracy of work undertaken by the Child Support Agency.

Child Support

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they intend to combine the principles of the consultation document Parental Separation: Children's Needs and Parents' Responsibilities with the principles of the Child Support Acts 1991 and 1995 that one parent is always with care, and the other parent is always absent.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The Green Paper was published on 21 July. The closing date for comments is 1 November. The Government will decide the right way forward only once the consultation period is over.
	The legislation governing child support is based on sound principles—every child has the right to the best possible start in life and parents have a clear responsibility to protect and provide for their children so that the children can make the most of their lives.
	The amount of child support that a non-resident parent is required to pay can be reduced if the child stays with him on a regular basis. The amount of the reduction depends on the extent to which the care of the child is shared by the parents.
	There is no tension between the proposals in the Green Paper and the principles that underpin child support.

Civil Service: Use of Outside Consultants

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In light of their recent proposed reductions in the number of full-time Civil Service posts, whether they intend to introduce measures to prevent job substitution using outside consultants.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The 2004 spending review announced that every department is required to consider and agree with the Office of Government Commerce by December 2004 how to pursue improvements in the value for money of all procurement of external professional services. This will include putting in place strong controls on the engagement of external service providers and ensuring public visibility of expenditure on these services.

Death Certificates

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What guidelines are given to health authorities and primary care trusts on the definition of cause of death (other than by disease) on death certificates.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Registrar General, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from the Registrar General, Len Cook, to Lord Stoddart of Swindon, dated 7 September 2004.
	As Registrar General, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what guidelines are given to health authorities and primary care trusts on the definition of cause of death (other than by disease) on death certificates. [HL3951].
	Under the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953, guidelines to certifiers on completing medical certificates of cause of death (MCCD) are included at the front of every book of MCCDs. These give instructions to the doctor certifying the death. MCCDs are not available without these instructions. Separate guidance is given to coroners.
	Guidelines are not given to health authorities or primary care trusts. It is the responsibility of the certifier to complete the medical certificate of cause of death to the best of their knowledge and belief.
	The inclusion of the term "smoking" on a death certificate is acceptable if accompanied by a medical cause of death.

Visit Britain: Funding

Lord Pendry: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much they have increased their funding to Visit Britain and its predecessors year-on-year in the past seven years.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Visit Britain was created in April 2003 following the merger of functions between the British Tourist Authority (BTA) and the English Tourism Council (ETC), formerly the English Tourist Board (ETB). The overall grant-in-aid allocation by the department to these bodies since 1998 is as follows:
	
		(£m)
		
			
			 Year 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
			 Grant-in-aid1 44.7 47.8 48.0 245.1 47.1 47.9 48.4 
		
	
	1 Figures for 1998–99 to 2002–03 comprise funding for BTA, ETB and ETC.
	2 Since April 2001, £1.5 million per year formerly allocated to BTA has been paid to the Greater London Authority for the promotion of London as a gateway to Britain.
	In addition, £14.2 million was awarded to the BTA in 2001–02 and a further £19 million in 2002–03 from the Reserve. £3.8 million was awarded to the ETC in 2001–02 and a further £1 million in 2002–03 from the Reserve. This additional funding from the Reserve was aimed at helping tourism to recover from the impact of the foot and mouth outbreak and the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001.
	In 2002, the ETC was awarded a further £3.6 million over two years from the Invest to Save budget to support the development of the EnglandNet project to establish an online tourism network for England.

Sport and Physical Activity

Lord Pendry: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they are using the London 2012 Olympic Bid to encourage greater physical activity among the general population.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Bidding for and, if successful, staging the Olympics is part of the Government's wider drive to increase participation in sport and physical activity. We are working with London 2012 to harness the profile of the bid to inspire more people to get active. So far, the bid has been used to help promote activities such as the 42 regional Youth Games events across the country, including Europe's largest youth sports festival at Crystal Palace in July, where over 12,000 competitors took part.
	In the event of a successful bid, strategies will be developed to ensure that the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are used to underpin the UK-wide participation drive lead by the Activity Co-ordination Team (ACT).

National Sports Foundation

Lord Pendry: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will ensure that the chairman of Sport England will consult widely with existing organisations within the world of sport, including the cricket and football foundations, before reporting on proposals to involve private and public sectors in a new National Sports Foundation.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Government have asked Lord Carter of Coles to report on the scope to improve the co-ordination of public funding and commercial sponsorship of sport, including the potential to establish a National Sports Foundation, with the objective of securing greater investment into sport. The review will get under way in the next few weeks and will seek the views of individuals and organisations from across sport as well as other interested parties.

Local Government Reorganisation: North-east

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What information they are intending to provide to the public about the costs of the options for the six counties in the north of England where it is proposed to introduce new local government structures as part of the referendum process; and
	Whether they will provide information about (a) the ongoing costs, and (b) the transitional costs, including service costs, for each of the options for the local government structures proposed by the Boundary Commission in its report of May 2004.

Lord Rooker: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister shall, for each of the options to be put to the electorate in the north-east on 4 November, provide information about the transitional costs of implementing local government reorganisation and the potential for running cost savings.

Gypsies and Travellers

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What calculations they have made of the cost of funding a statutory duty to provide sites for Gypsies and Travellers, as mentioned by the Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Mr Keith Hill MP, in evidence to the Select Committee on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on 13 July; and what further calculation they have made of the present-day value of reductions in future payments of housing benefit arising from the capital subsidies they envisage would be required under the new burdens policy.

Lord Rooker: Calculations of possible costs and benefits relating to a statutory duty to provide sites for Gypsies and Travellers, along with consideration of other options, have been carried out as part of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Gypsy and Traveller policy review. The review is still in progress and we are therefore not in a position to release further information at this time.

Depleted Uranium: Aircraft Industry

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What accounting procedures are in place for depleted uranium within the aircraft industry which satisfy the requirements of RSA93 registrations and the Ionising Radiations Regulations.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Premises that maintain or dismantle aircraft containing depleted uranium will need to hold registrations under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993. Copies of these registrations can be made available to the public through Environment Agency offices. Copies are also sent to local authorities so that they can be made available to the public. The Environment Agency is encouraging the replacement of radioactive aircraft components with those made of non-radioactive materials.
	RSA93 requirements would apply to depleted uranium in storage, but would not apply to aircraft in service. RSA93 does not apply to depleted uranium in military aircraft. However, the Ministry of Defence has instituted arrangements for accounting for depleted uranium that are parallel to the RSA93 requirements.
	Accounting procedures are a matter for the aircraft industry, but the Environment Agency and Health and Safety Executive need to be satisfied that RSA93 and Ionising Radiations Regulations (1999) requirements are complied with.

Depleted Uranium: Aircraft Industry

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether premises that maintain or dismantle aircraft containing depleted uranium have to be registered; and whether any such list is available to the public.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Premises that maintain or dismantle aircraft containing depleted uranium will need to hold registrations under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993. Copies of these registrations can be made available to the public through Environment Agency offices. Copies are also sent to local authorities so that they can be made available to the public.

Depleted Uranium: Aircraft Industry

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What discussions government agencies and departments have had with representatives of United Kingdom airlines and the aircraft manufacturing, serving and dismantling industries to ensure all participants are aware of the issues surrounding depleted uranium use within the industry and the applicable United Kingdom law.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Environment Agency has contacted major UK airlines and organisations involved in aircraft maintenance and recycling regarding the issues surrounding depleted uranium use within the industry and regulatory requirements under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993. The Environment Agency is encouraging the replacement of radioactive aircraft components with those made of non-radioactive materials.

Wind Farms

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 19 May (WA 91–92), why offshore wind farms received only £500,000 of climate change and renewables obligation invoices.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Offshore wind farms had received only around £0.5 million in support from the renewables obligation and climate change levy by May of this year because of the limited amount of offshore capacity actually in place at this point.
	Only two offshore wind farms existed when the original Question was tabled, a third at Scroby Sands was under construction and is currently undergoing final testing. The first of the two, a small 3.8 MW facility at Blyth, was constructed in 2000, and the second, the 60 MW facility at North Hoyle, was completed in November 2003, and hence had only been receiving support for just six months.
	This needs to be contrasted with the amount of onshore capacity receiving support at this point, around 650 MW, almost half of which had been in place since the start of the renewables obligation.

Incitement to Religious Hatred

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will ensure that there is (a) public consultation about, and (b) pre-legislative scrutiny of, their proposal to introduce legislation banning incitement to religious hatred.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: No decision has been taken on the handling and procedures for this proposal, which will be determined in part by the circumstances which pertain when a legislative vehicle is identified. However, the issues surrounding the case for a new offence were the subject of extensive examination during the review by the Select Committee on Religious Offences and the debate on the committee's report which took place on 22 April. The Government recognise that this is an issue of widespread interest and concern to many people. We will of course listen carefully to all views.

Incitement to Religious Hatred

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend the proposed legislation banning incitement to religious hatred to include only traditional religions such as Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and Islam.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Details about the scope of the offence will be set out when we are in a position to publish our proposals.

Incitement to Religious Hatred

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the proposed legislation banning incitement to religious hatred will permit a novelist to be prosecuted in circumstances similar to those which arose in Mr Salman Rushdie's case for writing The Satanic Verses; and
	Whether they intend the proposed legislation banning incitement to religious hatred to extend to secular commentators or satirists who express disdain for all religious worship using language that causes offences to believers in religious worship.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The legislation will be targeted at conduct which incites hatred of people because of their religion or beliefs. Its purpose will not be to curb utterances merely because some people may regard them as offensive. As the Home Secretary made clear in his speech to the Institute of Public Policy Research on 7 July, we are confident that concerns that legislation might prevent people debating each other's religion, or from proselytising, will prove to be unfounded.

Immigration

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, following the judgment in the case of R (on the application of B) v London Borough of Merton [2003], they will revise the Immigration and Nationality Department's Operational Enforcement Manual to make it clear that where an applicant claims to be a minor, the decision-maker cannot determine age solely on the basis of applicant's appearance, but must seek to elicit the general background of the applicant, including family circumstances, educational background and activities during the previous few years; and [HL3803 ]
	What advice they have received, and from what authorities, on the scientific basis of age determination of teenagers; and what are the margins of error of the methods used by the Immigration and Nationality Department; and
	What is the methodology used by Cambridgeshire Social Services in providing age estimates of persons detained at Oakington; what is the average length of time taken to provide these estimates; and why the Immigration and Nationality Department refuses to accept medical evidence provided by a consultant paediatrician.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) bases age assessments on physical appearance and available documentation. IND will always accept a full social services age assessment that also takes into account wider cultural and social factors. IND does not medically assess applicants to determine age, although it would consider a medical assessment prepared independently for an applicant by a consultant paediatrician.
	IND follows the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health guidance in its 1999 publication, The Health of Refugee Children—Guidelines for Paediatricians. The royal college has advised that medical age assessment is an "inexact science" and subject to a margin of error of as much as +/- five years. It exercises caution about using medical opinion in this complex area particularly if it is not supported by other wider ranging and more complete evidence.
	and will consult with the relevant stakeholders if any changes are required.
	Cambridgeshire Social Services is bound by the provisions of the Children Act 1989. Its age assessments are conducted in accordance with published statutory guidance for the assessments of children in need known as the "integrated children's system", which sets out the factors that should be taken into account.
	Cambridgeshire Social Services usually aims to provide an age assessment within seven working days of receipt of a request from a legal representative. IND does not hold data on the length of time taken by social services departments to produce age assessments.

National Asylum Support Service

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to ensure that the National Asylum Support Service website gives up-to-date information about the management, budgets and accounts of the organisation.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) website underwent a significant review in December 2003 and its content is kept updated under regular review. We do not publish individual directorate budgets or accounts.

National Asylum Support Service

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the total spend of the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) in 2003–04; what is its budget for 2004–05; and on what estimates of the number of asylum seekers receiving full NASS support and income-only support respectively (and in each case for what average length of time) the budget is based.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: NASS total expenditure consisting of asylum support, administration and grant was £1,124 million for 2002–03. The final outturn for NASS for 2003–04 is not yet available.
	The total resource budget for the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (which includes NASS) in 2004–05 is £1,657 million. The allocation of funding for NASS is not based solely on numbers of asylum seekers but takes into account a range of factors including direct and indirect support costs and cost reduction initiatives.

National Asylum Support Service

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will give details of the property contracts entered into by the National Asylum Support Service, giving in each case the value of the contract, the number of dwellings to which it relates, their capacity, and the date on which the contract expires.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Information relating to the contracts National Asylum Support Service (NASS) has with accommodation providers cannot be released because it is commercial in confidence. However I am able to say that NASS has 22 contracts across all providers. Fourteen of the contracts are due to expire between March and November 2005. The remaining eight contracts are due to expire in 2006. In 2002–03, the last year for which figures are available, NASS spent £594 million on accommodation.

Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the insurance policy on H M Removal Centre Harmondsworth will cover the cost of repairing the recent damage as well as additional expense incurred by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate on providing alternative accommodation, together with facilities for the interviewing and, where necessary, escorting and removal of Harmondsworth inmates, while repairs are being carried out.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The insurance contract requires the contractor to effect insurance in respect of these expenses, and confirmation of the coverage being in place has been received. The policy should therefore respond to both damage caused and additional expenses incurred subject to the specific terms and conditions, including deductibles, of the policy.

Beggars: Prosecution

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What consequences they expect from any attempt to enforce the prosecution of beggars.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: From the end of July this year, begging will be included as a trigger offence under the criminal justice interventions programme. This will mean that those charged with begging will be drug tested and will enhance their opportunities for the underlying causes of their behaviour to be addressed and to root out repeat offending by offering treatment.
	We need to ensure that we address the underlying causes of those who beg. If we help those who beg because of drug use to get access to effective treatment we help them, help communities and help those intimidated by begging. Better use of enforcement powers and alternative giving schemes will help to address the underlying and immediate problems.

Asylum Applications

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Given the commitment in the Comprehensive Spending Review to produce savings by halving the number of people applying for asylum in the United Kingdom, to what extent the Goverment can control this figure.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government recognise the limited control they have over factors that may lead to an increase in the number of people applying for asylum in the United Kingdom. Concerted effort is required on a number of fronts. The work that the Department for International Development (DfID) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) do to reduce poverty, human rights abuse and conflict in poor or badly governed countries helps to remove the conditions which produce asylum-seeking. The Government have also put in place a range of measures designed to tackle abuse of the system which have already contributed to a reduction of more than 50 per cent in the number of new applications when compared to the peak of October 2002. The Government will continue to seek further reductions in asylum intake through relentless implementation of such measures.
	The range of measures includes:
	Juxtaposed Controls—the establishment of frontier control zones in key locations overseas to enable UK immigration officers to consider and decide the admissibility of passengers prior to embarkation to the UK. Such controls currently operate at Coquelles, Calais, Dunkirk, Boulogne, Eurostar stations in France and Eurostar stations in Belgium for direct services to the UK.
	Deployment of new detection technology at key continental ports for the effective searching of vehicles before embarking on ships to the UK.
	An informed visa strategy (including direct airside transit visas) designed to establish qualification for entry before arrival, and which is kept under regular review with requirements, imposed or lifted in response to immigration pressures and wider considerations.
	The expansion of the airline liaison officers network abroad offering advice and training to the airlines to control the number of inadequately documented arrivals by air.
	Alongside this, a number of key initiatives are designed to reduce the attractiveness of the UK as an asylum-seeking destination including the non-suspensive appeals provision (NSA); the Harmondsworth fast track pilot; restricted access to NASS support (RANS).
	In addition measures in the Asylum & Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc) Bill will ensure that asylum seekers do not benefit by destroying their documents to prevent removal and will help to make the appeals system faster.

Ethnic Monitoring: Fixed Penalty Notices

Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will introduce ethnic monitoring of those subjected to on-the-spot fines.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Fixed penalty notices for disorder, otherwise known as "on-the-spot" fines, are subject to ethnic monitoring. Police officers are required to record ethnicity on the penalty notice and the statistical returns provided to the Home Office require ethnicity to be identified.

Penal Policy

Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether their plan to cap the use of imprisonment is compatible with their remarks about a "liberal consensus" in penal policy.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government have no plans to cap the use of imprisonment by the courts. It is for the courts to decide when custody is the appropriate sentence. The Government have, however, consistently made clear their belief that prison should be reserved for the most serious, dangerous and seriously persistent offenders. We will ensure that there are sufficient prison places for that group. New sentencing provisions in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 will enable dangerous violent and sexual criminals to be kept in prison until they can be managed in the community, indefinitely if necessary.
	For other offenders, we wish to see a reduction in the use of short ineffective sentences for lower-level offenders, where tough community penalties would be more effective in preventing reoffending and ensuring offenders pay back to the community.

Police: Telephone Response Times

Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have plans to reduce the time taken by police stations to respond to telephone calls.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We are committed to improving the quality of service the police provide to the public when they are in contact with them.
	Call handling is a particularly important aspect of this service. A member of the public should be able to expect the same high quality service whenever they are in contact with the police, which is responsive to their needs, irrespective of where they live.
	We are working with partners, including the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), to introduce minimum standards for service to the public, including the answering of telephone calls. We will also ensure that people are clear about the best way to contact the police.

Spitting

Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether spitting is a criminal offence.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Spitting is a criminal offence under certain local acts, such as railway by-laws, but it is not criminalised under any legisation that has national application.

Refugees: Gateway Protection Programme

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect to resettle the first 500 United Nations-approved refugees under the United Kingdom Gateway Protection Programme; whether this programme has been delayed owing to administrative problems or cost; and whether it will be given priority.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The first refugees to be resettled in Britain under the Gateway Protection Programme arrived from Africa in March 2004. So far a total of 69 have arrived and settled in Sheffield. Further groups will be received and located in a number of towns and cities in the course of the coming months, but it is not yet possible to give the precise numbers involved. Earlier delays to the programme arose as a result of administrative problems both in Britain and in Africa; these have now been settled for the most part. The Government remain committed to the Gateway Programme.

Sound Insulation: Government Properties

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether in appropriate circumstances they will provide better sound insulation to properties under their control to diminish the anti-social effect of loud music.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Home Office does not make any special provision for insulating properties under its control to diminish the anti-social effect of loud music. The department is not aware that there is a problem with loud music emanating from its properties.

Kenya

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether adequate arrangements exist with the government of Kenya to pursue allegations of corruption involving United Kingdom-based companies operating in Kenya; whether the arrangements are satisfactory; and, in particular, whether the Government of Kenya have asked for the Government's assistance in pursuing their investigation of an agreement to provide Kenya with a new passport system, involving a Liverpool-based company, Saagar Associates.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We are responding to requests for information from the competent Kenyan authorities. The British Government have standard arrangements for dealing expeditiously with such requests. The Kenyan Government have asked us not to divulge further details in order to avoid prejudicing ongoing investigations.

Ethiopia and Eritrea

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will propose any further initiative, either bilaterally or through the European Union, to assist the African Union to promote a lasting peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We will continue to press Ethiopia to accept the Boundary Commission decision, which is final and binding, and press Eritrea to participate in the comprehensive political dialogue proposed by the Secretary General's Special Envoy. We are also ready to support African Union efforts to promote a lasting peace.

Afghanistan

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made with the disarmament of local or provisional militia in Afghanistan; and to what extent they are being absorbed into the national army to make up for slow recruitment and defections.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: According to the latest figures we have from the United Nations (UN), by mid-July some 10,000 militia officers and soldiers had passed through the UN-led programme of demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration. Around 2 per cent chose to enlist in the Afghan national army (ANA) or police force as their reintegration option. A further 10 per cent will assist with de-mining. The overwhelming majority of demobilised personnel have elected to enter civilian society through vocational training, small business training or agriculture. The ANA has now expanded to four battalions consisting of around 12,000 personnel in total. ANA units regularly operate effectively alongside coalition forces on arms collection and counter-insurgency missions throughout Afghanistan.

Afghanistan

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the costs of the additional provincial reconstruction teams agreed to be established in Afghanistan at the NATO summit in Istanbul on 28–29 June are to be borne collectively by NATO member states, or by the states providing the teams.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: It is standard NATO practice for member states to fund their own deployments. Each provincial reconstruction team (PRT) run under the International Security Assistance Force is headed by a lead nation that funds its own national contingent and the infrastructure needed to support the PRT. Other troop contingents or civilian representatives from partner nations are funded by the country that provides them.

Afghanistan

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the expansion of the NATO presence in Afghanistan will reduce the power of local warlords and tackle the drugs trade.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: NATO's agreed plan for expansion of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is based on phased expansion of the network of provincial reconstruction teams (PRTs) across Afghanistan. One of the aims of the PRTs is to support the Afghan central government in extending their authority in the regions. The communiqué from NATO's summit in Istanbul on 28 June states that NATO will provide appropriate support, within ISAF's mandate, to the Afghan authorities in taking resolute action against the production and trafficking of narcotics.

Afghanistan

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many aid, construction and election workers were killed in Afghanistan in (a) 2003; and (b) the first six months of 2004.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: There are no authoritative statistics, but media reporting suggests that 18 aid, construction and election workers died in 2003; and 42 died in the first six months of 2004. These totals include both foreign nationals and Afghan citizens working for the United Nations and non-govermental organisations.

Afghanistan

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the recent proposal of the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit for a long-term plan for security in Afghanistan.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We welcome the emphasis on a long-term plan for security in the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit's June briefing paper, "Minimal Investments, Minimal Results: The Failure of Security Policy in Afghanistan". We continually review our own, and partners', efforts in this area, but we believe that a long-term plan already exists and is being implemented.
	In the short term, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the US-led coalition are assisting the Afghan authorities to build a secure environment. NATO is currently implementing plans for expanding ISAF.
	In the longer term, sustainable improvement in security can only come through developing the capabilities of Afghanistan's own security and law enforcement institutions. The international community has made a long-term commitment to Security Sector Reform (SSR). The UK has been very active in this. We have committed £70 million over three years from 2003–04 to assist the Afghan authorities in their efforts to combat the production and trafficking of illegal narcotics. The UK is also active in police reconstruction; reform of the Afghan National Army; the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration process; and the justice sector. As the paper points out, provincial reconstruction teams (PRTs) provide both short and long-term support, helping the Afghan authorities create a more secure and stable environment and thereby facilitating SSR. We fully support the PRT "stabilisation" model promoted in the paper, and the UK PRTs in northern Afghanistan have demonstrated what it can achieve.

European Economic Area

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What European Union policy areas do not apply to non-European Union members of the European economic area under the European economic area agreement; and
	What joint European Union-European economic area institutions provide for decision-shaping and decision-making by non-European Union members of the European economic area when European Union bodies are preparing new European economic area-relevant legislation.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The European economic area (EEA) agreement establishes rules to facilitate the movement of goods, services, capital and persons between EU and EEA member states in an open and competitive environment. It binds EEA members into most EU single market rules.
	Broadly the EEA agreement does not cover the following EU policy areas:
	common agriculture and fisheries policies (although the agreement contains provisions on various aspects of trade in agricultural and fish products);
	the common commerical policy, including customs union;
	the common foreign and security policy;
	justice and home affairs (although Iceland and Norway participate in Schengen co-operation);
	trans-European networks;
	public health (except in the context of the environment of health and safety in work);
	industry;
	development co-operation;
	economic and social cohesion;
	economic, financial and technical co-operation with third countries; and
	economic and monetary policy, including monetary union (EMU).
	EEA European Free Trade Association (EFTA) states have no formal access to the EU decision-making process. Only EU membership can give such access. The EEA agreement contains provision for input from EEA EFTA states at various stages of the preparation of EEA-relevant EU legislation but this is not the same as joint decision-making. EEA EFTA experts are consulted informally by the Commission when drawing up legislation and experts also have access to Commission comitology and programme committees but they do not have a vote. Again, only EU membership provides for this.
	Once relevant EC legislation has been formally adopted by the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament, or by the European Commission, the EEA Joint Committee takes a decision concerning any appropriate amendment of the EEA agreement with a view to permitting a simultaneous application of legislation in the EU and the EEA EFTA states. The EEA Joint Committee is assisted by four sub-committees and various working groups. The EEA council provides political impetus for the development of the EEA agreement and guidelines for the Joint Committee.
	Further information about the EEA can be found on the website of the EFTA Secretariat: www.secretariat.efta.int.

Iran: Political Dissidents

Lord Chan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they have taken since January to persuade the Government of Iran to release from prison the Iranian political dissidents, Ebrahim Khodabandeh and Jamil Bassam, who have previously been granted asylum in the United Kingdom.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We continue to raise the case of Ebrahim Khodabandeh and Jamil Bassam with the Iranian Government. We have urged the Iranian authorities to respect the human rights of the two men and ensure that they are treated in accordance with the law, held in humane conditions and given a fair trial.

Smallpox Vaccination: Medical Staff

Lord Jopling: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 30 March (WA 147), how many doctors, nurses, ambulance staff, scientists and others have been vaccinated for smallpox so as to enable them to deal with a terrorist attack; and how many of them have suffered side effects from their vaccination.

Lord Warner: At 13 July 2004, a total of 294 people in England have been vaccinated against smallpox as part of our contingency planning. Of these people: 141 are doctors, 126 are nurses, 19 are scientists, six are ambulance staff, and two are from other occupations. The vaccination programme is on-going.

NHS: Treatment Overseas

Lord Chadlington: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many people have received medical treatment abroad following a referral from their local primary care trust.

Lord Warner: Patients are referred for overseas treatment by their acute trust with the agreement of the commissioning primary care trust or directly by their primary care trust. Acute trusts and primary care trusts use the services of the National Health Service overseas commissioning team at Guys and St Thomas' NHS Trust which sources suitable overseas providers, and procures treatment in Europe for the NHS. The overseas commissioning team also holds the contracts for treatment overseas on behalf of the NHS. The number of patients referred overseas directly by their primary care trusts has not been recorded by central monitoring. In total, however, 879 patients have been referred overseas for treatment since January 2002.

Water Fluoridation

Earl Baldwin of Bewdley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 28 June (WA 6), and in light of the finding of the systematic review of water fluoridation in 2000 by the National Health Service Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at the University of York that few safety studies of even moderate quality could be found (Level B, Appendix D), on what basis "further reassurance of the safety of fluoridated water" can be provided by a study which did not address itself to safety; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 28 June (WA 6), what are the population studies on which they base the statement that "No health effects, other than enhanced resistance to tooth decay, have been detected in residents in this naturally fluoridated area"; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 28 June (WA 6), how they reconcile the finding of the School of Dental Sciences of the University of Newcastle with their statement that "no evidence" has been found for any differences between the absorption of artificially and naturally fluoridated water; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 28 June (WA 6), whether, in claiming "no evidence of any differences" in the bioavailability study on fluoride recently conducted at the Newcastle School of Dental Studies, they have taken note of the authors' warning in section 6 of their report that "some caution is necessary when interpreting the results" because of "the small number of subjects", and of their comments in section 7 on the benefits of further research on this topic.

Lord Warner: The report by the School of Dental Sciences at Newcastle University concludes that "There was no statistically significant difference [in absorption of fluoride] between artificially and naturally fluoridated water, or between soft and hard water". For the subjects in the study, there were small differences in indices of bioavailability between the trials of the various types of water, but the results were compatible with the conclusion that the source of fluoride and the hardness of the water had no important influence on the bioavailability of fluoride. This conclusion agrees with the findings of the earlier study quoted in the report, Chemistry and bioavailability aspects of fluoride in drinking water, which concluded "In terms of chemistry and bioavailability there is absolutely no difference between added and natural fluoride". Much of the evidence bearing on the safety of fluoridation of drinking water consists of epidemiological studies in populations exposed to fluoride occurring naturally in water supplies. The Newcastle study adds further confirmation that there is no evidence that the epidemiological findings relating to natural fluoride are inapplicable to artificial fluoridation.
	Studies in England have found no relationship between fluoride naturally present in drinking-water and any of the non-dental health outcomes considered, including mortality from all causes, tuberculosis, cancers, cardiovascular diseases, influenza, pneumonia, bronchitis, peptic ulcer, nephritis, nephrosis, congenital malformations, mortality from accidents/poisonings/violence, stillbirths, infant mortality, osteochondritis juvenalis of the spine, goitre, excessive accumulation of fluoride in bone, and hip fracture.
	We commissioned the bioavailability project as part of the programme of research with which we are strengthening the evidence base on fluoridation in accordance with the recommendations of the systematic review of fluoridation undertaken by the University of York.

Water Fluoridation

Earl Baldwin of Bewdley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 28 June (WA 6), why they draw conclusions for public health policy from a study on fluoride which has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Lord Warner: It is the department's practice to submit reports of any research that it commissions for peer review before accepting the conclusions notwithstanding any arrangements the researchers choose to make about publishing their results. A draft of Bioavailability of fluoride in drinking water—a human experimental study was submitted for peer review to five eminent academic experts in this field at universities in Sweden, the United States and the United Kingdom. The comments of the reviewers were then passed to the researchers at the School of Dental Sciences at Newcastle University to help with their preparation of the final report. In addition, Professor Andy Renwick of the University of Southampton provided advice on the project and on the draft report as an independent member of the department's steering group.

MRSA

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress there has been in countering the spread of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus-related conditions among patients in National Health Service hospitals; and what consideration has been given to compensating patients who have been infected and dependants of those who have died.

Lord Warner: Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other healthcare associated infections are prevented and contained by good infection control. Implementation of Winning Ways—Working together to reduce Healthcare Associated Infection in England and Towards Cleaner Hospitals and Lower Rates of Infection will improve clinical practice and reduce infection rates. In addition, we have a new target to reduce MRSA infections.
	We have no plans to award compensation to patients with MRSA in National Health Service trusts.

Blood Tests

Baroness Masham of Ilton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have plans to send blood samples from National Health Service patients to India for testing; and, if so, which blood tests will be carried out there.

Lord Warner: The Department of Health has no plans to send blood samples from National Health Service patients to India for testing.

Midwives

Baroness Cumberlege: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many midwives, expressed by way of (a) a headcount and (b) whole-time equivalent, were employed in the National Health Service in England, broken down by National Health Service Trust, in (i) 1997; and (ii) the most recent year for which figures are available.

Lord Warner: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Eye Tests: Pensioners

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many Warrington pensioners have received full eye tests in the past two years; and at what cost to the public purse.

Lord Warner: Data for the number of sight tests either by constituency or by the number of pensioners are not collected centrally.
	The total number of National Health Service sight tests paid for patients aged 60 and over in the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority area for the year 2001–02 was 193,160 and 201,180 for the year 2002–03. The estimated cost for the year 2001–02 was £3.1 million and £3.4 million for the year 2002–03.

Healthcare Associated Infections

Baroness Cumberlege: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the "rapid review" promised in the report from the Chief Medical Officer, Winning Ways, (published in December 2003), will start; and on what date it will be completed to "assess new procedures and products . . . to prevent or control healthcare associated infection".

Lord Warner: The Health Protection Agency has convened a panel of experts to assess new procedures and products making claims about their ability to prevent or control healthcare associated infections. It is expected that the first batch of products will have been assessed by the autumn. It is anticipated that the panel's assessments will be published on a regular basis and no date has been set for completion of its work.

NHS: Public/Private Partnership Schemes

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 13 July (WA 140), whether sums committed by public/private partnership schemes to provide facilities within the National Health Service are included in the Government's statement of public expenditure.

Lord Warner: National Health Service accountants and their independent auditors take the decision on the accounting treatment of private finance initiative deals as either financing or operating leases. This decision is made by applying independently set generally accepted accounting practice standards and subject to independent audit. National accounts, upon which the fiscal rules are judged, follow the accounting treatment.
	The total capital value of assets acquired by the NHS under balance sheet PFI deals (a type of finance lease) is included in public sector net investment and public sector net borrowing.
	Where the asset is provided under an operating lease then the capital value is not included in measures of public spending. This is because the asset is not judged as being on the NHS balance sheet.
	The effect on current expenditure is the same for PFI deals whether they are on or off balance sheet. The value of the estimated future unitary charge payments for the next 25 years for all the Government's PFI projects, irrespective of their balance sheet treatment, are recorded in table C19 of the Financial Secretary's Budget Report.

NHS Professionals Special Health Authority

Lord Howie of Troon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 21 June (WA 105), whether they will provide a detailed breakdown of the 7 per cent charged to National Health Service trusts by National Health Service Professionals in relation to on-costs in the supply of temporary nurses; and whether any additional fees are levied at any point of National Health Service Professionals' relationship with a National Health Service Trust, in particular management set up charges; and
	What proportion of vacancies for temporary nurses is: (a) filled by National Health Service Professionals using (i) National Health Service Professionals' own resources; and (ii) external private sector nursing agencies; and (b) left unfilled; and
	How much National Health Service Professionals charges National Health Service Trusts for the supply of temporary nurses sourced from external private sector nursing agencies; and what proportion of those charges is (a) paid to the external private sector nursing agency; and (b) kept by National Health Service Professionals; and
	What changes will be made to the charges National Health Service Professionals make to National Health Service Trusts for the supply of temporary nurses following the introduction of the new Agenda for Change pay system.

Lord Warner: The information is not available centrally. We are informed by NHS Professionals that the 7 per cent on costs relates to national insurance contributions and superannuation but it is not possible to break this down further.
	On average NHS Professionals is able to fill around 90 per cent of vacancies. Of these, 70 per cent are filled through NHS Professionals, 20 per cent through preferred agencies nominated by NHS Trusts and using Agency Framework Agreements and 10 per cent remain unfilled, although there is some regional variation in fill rates.
	The private sector nursing agency receives the invoiced cost of placement. In almost every case, NHS Professionals does not levy an additional service charge to recover the costs of placement.
	NHS Professionals will review the rates paid to temporary workers to take account of the Agenda for Change pay structure and will work with NHS Trusts to assess the impact that this will have.

Food Supplements: Regulation

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they next intend to meet with representatives of Consumers for Health Choice to discuss the regulation of food supplements.

Lord Warner: My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health will meet with representatives of Consumers for Health Choice to discuss the regulation of food supplements as soon as a mutually convenient date can be arranged.

Low Carbohydrate Diets

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What recent information about peer-reviewed scientific literature supporting the safety and efficacy of low carbohydrate diets has been received from Dr Sarah Brewer of Atkins Health and Medical Information Services by the Department of Health, the Food Standards Agency, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence and the Health Development Agency, and what action they are taking as a result.

Lord Warner: The Department of Health, the Food Standards Agency and the Health Development Agency have all received scientific literature supporting the safety and efficacy of low carbohydrate diets from Dr Brewer. Officials have acknowledged receipt. As one of the 167 registered stakeholders, Atkins Nutritional Inc will be asked to officially submit this evidence as part of the joint National Institute for Clinical Excellence/Health Development Agency work on the development of guidance on the prevention and management of obesity in England and Wales.

Warrington Primary Care Trust:Dental Treatment

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many pensioners in Warrington have had free dental treatment in the last two years; and what was the cost.

Lord Warner: The information requested is not collected in the format requested. Information for the total number of exemptions for dental charges for the residents within the Warrington Primary Care Trust are shown in the table.
	
		All Patients in Warrington PCT
		
			 FinancialYear ExemptionType Number of Claims Number of Patients Treated Patient Charge Calculated (£) 
			 2003 Disability Working   Allowance 84 59 3,199.04 
			  Family Credit 2 2 19.00 
			  Full Remission 408 260 16,134.16 
			  Income Support 1,660 1,088 64,576.05 
			  Job Seekers Allowance 13 9 379.08 
			  Total 2,167 1,418 84,307.00 
			 2004 Disability Working   Allowance 41 35 1,786.36 
			  Family Credit 8 6 320.48 
			  Full Remission 368 240 14,838.88 
			  Income Support 1,847 1,173 71,252.09 
			  Job Seekers Allowance 13 6 167.52 
			  Tax Credit 79 65 2,692.60 
			  Total 2,356 1,525 91,058.00 
		
	
	Notes:
	Patients will be counted more than once if we have received claims for more than one type of exemption.
	No adjustment has been made for correction or deletion records.
	Source:
	Information Services Dental Practice Board.

Smoking-related Diseases

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, in cases where the cause of death is defined as lung cancer, any record is kept of the deceased's smoking habits or their exposure to passive smoking; and, if so, from whom that information is obtained.

Lord Warner: In individual cases of death from lung cancer records of smoking habits are not routinely kept. However, it is possible to estimate the number of lung cancer deaths due to smoking from known data on current and historical smoking rates. In 1995 an estimated 30,600 deaths from lung cancer were attributable to smoking, 84 per cent of all lung cancer deaths. The details of the methodology used to calculate this figure are set out in detail in the UK Smoking Epidemic: Deaths in 1995, which was published in 1998 by the Health Education Authority. A copy has been placed in the Library.

Smoking-related Diseases

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How the cost to the National Health Service of smoking-related diseases is calculated.

Lord Warner: Calculation of the cost to the National Health Service of treating smoking-related diseases is set out in the journal of the British Thoracic Society, Thorax 1998 Smoking cessation Guidelines and their Cost effectiveness; Volume 53, Supplement 5, Part 1, S4-S10. A copy of Thorax has been placed in the Library.

Smoking-related Diseases

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many children attend accident and emergency departments each year as a result of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke; how this figure is calculated; and what illnesses are involved.

Lord Warner: The Royal College of Physicians, using the most recent data for hospital admissions among children and prevalence of smoking among mothers, calculated that 5.7 per cent of total hospital admissions of children aged 0 to four (approximately 17,000 hospital admissions) were due to exposure to parental smoke. The details of the methodology used to calculate this figure are set out in detail in the publication Smoking and the young, Royal College of Physicians 1992. A copy has been placed in the Library.
	According to the Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health, secondhand smoke is causally linked to ischaemic heart disease, cot death, middle ear disease, serious respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis and pneumonia, asthma attacks and other breathing problems in children.

Alcohol Abuse: Costs

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the costs to the National Health Service of the abuse of alcohol, including binge drinking.

Lord Warner: The Prime Minister's Strategy Unit's interim analytical report (published on 19 September 2003) indicated that the estimated cost of alcohol misuse to the National Health Service in England is up to £1.7 billion per year.

Alcohol Abuse: Costs

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their estimate of the social costs of the abuse of alcohol in (a) England and Wales; (b) Scotland, and (c) Northern Ireland.

Lord Warner: The Prime Minister's Strategy Unit's interim analytical report published 19 September 2003 estimated that the cost of alcohol related harms in England was around £20 billion per year.
	The detailed costs were set out in a paper on the Economic costs of alcohol misuse which is available from the web site at: www.number10.gov.uk/output4498.asp. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own strategies for tackling alcohol misuse.
	In Northern Ireland, the report, Reducing Alcohol Related Harm in Northern Ireland estimated that, in 1997–1998, the last year for which costs are available, the social costs to the health and personal social services amounted to £26.8 million per year.

Actinic Keratosis

Lord Henley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the number of patients presenting cases of actinic keratosis will be monitored over the duration of the SunSmart skin cancer prevention campaign; and
	Whether the diagnosis and treatment of actinic keratosis will be monitored as an indicator of changing levels of sun awareness and skin health; and
	Whether they will ensure that information on the incidence of actinic keratosis around England is collected centrally.

Lord Warner: Central monitoring and reporting is concentrated on the information needed to demonstrate progress against the targets set out in National Standards, Local Action: Health and Social care Standards and Planning Framework 2005/06–2007/08 published by the department on 21 July 2004; and for contractual purposes. Additional monitoring is kept to a minimum in favour of local performance management systems, exception reporting and independent inspections and does not include cases of actinic keratosis.

NHS Dental Services

Lord Colwyn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the remarks by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, Dr Stephen Ladyman MP, in 15 July (HC Deb, col. 1637), how many dental practices have, since 1997, "taken the National Health Service shilling in order to expand their practice, then decided to abandon the National Health Service".

Lord Warner: The information requested is not available centrally.

Osteoporosis

Baroness Greengross: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they ensure there is a coordinated national osteoporosis and falls service in the National Health Service; and
	How they ensure primary care trusts provide an osteoporosis and falls service; and how they monitor that provision.

Lord Warner: The National Service Framework for Older People (NSF) requires integrated falls services to be in place locally by April 2005. This should include appropriate links to osteoporosis. The Department of Health will be monitoring formally the April 2005 milestone at strategic health authority (SHA) level as this is included as one of the key targets in Improvement, Expansion and Reform, the priorities and planning framework for 2003–2006. SHAs are the key link between the department and primary care trusts. They ensure that national priorities, such as the development of falls services, are integrated into plans for the local health service. The Healthcare Commission will be undertaking a review of progress in delivery of the NSF for Older People including falls services, over the coming year.

Osteoporosis

Baroness Greengross: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How National Health Service Modernisation Agency initiatives on osteoporosis and falls will be implemented when that body is abolished.

Lord Warner: Ensuring the appropriate local delivery of osteoporosis and falls care and treatment is the responsibility of local health organisations.
	By April 2005 the NHS Modernisation Agency will transfer most of its staff to modernisation within local settings. The Modernisation Agency will be succeeded by a new, smaller national organisation, which will preserve a strong central focus on modernisation and innovation in the National Health Service. The Modernisation Agency's devolved staff will be well placed to provide any necessary on-going support to the local services that will have been established.

Osteoporosis

Baroness Greengross: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they ensure National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines are consistent with osteoporosis clinical guidelines.

Lord Warner: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence is the independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on treatments and care for those using the National Health Service in England and Wales. The institute takes account of the best available evidence and consults widely when formulating its advice to the NHS. The consultees may include guidance producing bodies, such as the Royal Colleges. The Royal College of Physicians has produced clinical guidelines on the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and NICE will take these into account when formulating its guidance.

Acrylamide

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, in the last two years, ways have been found to reduce levels of acrylamide in processed foods; and, if so, what methods have been used, and what reductions attained.

Lord Warner: The Food Standards Agency advises that there is no evidence of a general decrease in acrylamide levels in food since the discovery of unexpected levels in April 2002. Some food processors have however identified ways of achieving reductions which are specific to their processes.
	There is at present insufficient scientific information on reliable methods of consistently reducing acrylamide while maintaining the safety and nutritional quality of food. A considerable body of research is in progress on this issue. The FSA is directly funding a number of research projects which will be reported over the next year. The agency is also taking a central role in the co-ordination of European and international efforts to develop an understanding of acrylamide in food. These activities will provide information for the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives evaluation of acrylamide in 2005.

Rural Ambulance Trusts: Response Times

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many rural ambulance trusts are now meeting government targets on response times; what percentage of rural trusts that number represents; and what are the comparative numbers and percentages for urban trusts.

Lord Warner: The latest available information, for the year 2003–04 is given in the table:
	
		
			 Target meeting target Rural services meeting target Urban services 
			  number % of all 23 rural services number % of all 8 urban services 
			 category A 8 minute 17 74% 5 63% 
			 category A 14/19 minute 18 78% 3 38% 
			 category B/C 14/19 minute 11 48% 0 0% 
			 urgent 15 minute 3 13% 2 25% 
		
	
	Current ambulance performance requirement:
	1. All ambulance trusts to respond to 75 per cent of category A calls within 8 minutes.
	2. All ambulance trusts to respond to 95 per cent of category A calls within 14 (urban)/19 (rural) minutes.
	3. All ambulance trusts to respond to 95 per cent of category B calls within 14 (urban)/19 (rural) minutes.
	4. Urgent cases: In addition to emergency 999 calls, ambulance services are required to take patients to hospital where the need is identified by a doctor as urgent and these patients should arrive at hospital within 15 minutes of the arrival time specified by the doctor in 95 per cent of cases.
	The available data are published in the statistical bulletin Ambulance services, England: 2003–04 and is available at www.publications.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0313.htm. A copy will be made available in the Library.

Oxygen: Home Treatment Service

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the projected contract to supply oxygen to patients who use it for home treatment will involve (as some concentrate systems do) full emergency cover at night and out-of-hours; and whether they have made an analysis of the cost of such cover weighed against the cost of emergency hospital admissions caused by its absence.

Lord Warner: The proposed service specification for the new contract includes a requirement for the contractor to provide a home oxygen service on a 24-hour, seven day a week basis.

Skin Cancer

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will consider providing incentives to health professionals to encourage them to check patients' skin for potentially cancerous lesions.

Lord Warner: Every general practitioner has a duty to provide appropriate care to their patients, including where suitable, checking for potentially cancerous lesions.
	It is possible that indicators on skin lesions could be included in a future review of the Quality and Outcomes Famework (QOF), which is part of the new General Medical Services contract that incentivises good practice by general practitioners. An independent review group will be established by the end of 2004 to make recommendations for changes to the QOF. Recommendations which are agreed can be implemented from April.

Skin Cancer

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What guidance they will produce to encourage health professionals to take an opportunistic approach to checking patients' skin for potentially cancerous lesions.

Lord Warner: Cancer Research UK has printed 40,000 posters designed to assist general practitioners and practice nurses in the identification of suspicious skin lesions, including actinic keratosis. The poster, which contains photographs and explanations of various lesions, has been distributed to all UK doctors' surgeries.
	The Department of Health has also published referral guidelines for suspected cancer to assist general practitioners in determining those patients with suspected skin cancer who need to be referred urgently to see a specialist within two weeks, those patients that can be referred for a routine appointment and those who can be safely watched at a primary care level. The guidelines include a section on skin cancer.
	The National Institute for Clinical Excellence is updating these guidelines and is currently consulting on the first draft of the revised guidance.

Skin Cancer

Lord Clement-Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will make additional funding available to primary care trusts for practising general practitioners and nurses to attend further training courses on the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancers and skin lesions.

Lord Warner: The Government are increasing the level of investment in primary care services by £1.8 billion over the period April 2003 and March 2006 in support of the new primary care contracting arrangements. These new arrangements provide resources to primary care trusts for protected development time and give opportunities for general practitioners and nurses to take on more advanced and specialised roles, which may include the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancers and skin lesions.

General Practitioner Training

Lord Clement-Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any regular national assessment of general practitioner competency is made to inform national priorities for further training.

Lord Warner: While in training, assessment of a general practitioner's (GP) registrar's competence is carried out through a series of assessments managed by the GP director in the relevant postgraduate deanery. The assessment tools are quality assured to United Kingdom wide standards by the independent competent authority, the Joint Committee on Postgraduate Training for General Practice, who also determine the curriculum and ensure that priority areas are reflected in it.
	For qualified GPs, assessment of continuing competence is done on an individual basis through clinical governance and clinical audit by local primary care trusts (PCTs). Any areas for development identified during the annual appraisal process, which is a requirement for all GPs, will be included in the doctor's yearly personal development plan agreed between the doctor and the appraiser appointed by the PCT. The outcomes of the appraisal process will be fed up into PCT business plans where training and development needs will be addressed.

Postgraduate Medical Training

Lord Clement-Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they hold regular discussions with the appropriate professional bodies regarding priority areas for postgraduate medical training.

Lord Warner: There is regular contact between the Department of Health and the United Kingdom independent bodies with responsibility for postgraduate medical training—the Specialist Training Authority, the Joint Committee on Postgraduate Training for General Practice and the General Medical Council. This is principally to discuss aspects of the reform of postgraduate medical training. Part of our initiative, Modernising Medical Careers, is the review of postgraduate curricula for specialist and general practice training.

Postgraduate Medical Training

Lord Clement-Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What discussions they have had with the Joint Committee on Postgraduate Training for General Practice on the level of general practitioner competency in the diagnosis of skin cancers and skin lesions.

Lord Warner: This subject has not been raised with the Joint Committee on Postgraduate Training for General Practice.

Draft Animal Welfare Bill

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will allow for pre-legislative scrutiny of the proposed Animal Welfare Bill due to be introduced in November.

Lord Whitty: The draft Animal Welfare Bill, which was published on 14 July 2004, will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny.

Bovine TB

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many cattle were slaughtered under the tuberculosis testing and surveillance scheme in each of the most recent 12 three-month periods; and how much compensation was paid by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to farmers in each period in respect of cattle slaughtered under the scheme.

Lord Whitty: The number of cattle slaughtered under TB control measures, and compensation paid in Great Britain in the time periods requested are detailed in the table below.
	
		
			 Dates Cattle Slaughtered 1 (TB Reactors+Direct Contacts) Compensation Paid (to nearest £,000) 
			 April–June 20012 824 1,209,000 
			 July–September 20012 1,182 1,489,000 
			 October–December 20012 2,089 1,404,000 
			 January–March 20023 4,932 5,585,000 
			 April–June 20023 5,822 5,045,000 
			 July–September 20023 6,142 9,945,000 
			 October–December 20023 6,109 8,310,000 
			 January–March 20033 6,895 11,891,000 
			 April–June 20033 6,359 7,800,000 
			 July–September 20033 5,063 10,235,000 
			 October–December 20033 4,731 8,289,000 
			 January–March 2004 3 6,332 10,284,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1 In 2001, the TB testing and control programme was largely suspended due to the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak. Since testing resumed in 2002, resources have been concentrated on herds with overdue TB tests which would have had a longer period in which to contract the disease. Also the proportion of high risk herds being tested post-FMD is greater than that prior to the outbreak. As a result, the number of TB reactors identified and slaughtered in these years is not comparable to those identified and slaughtered in subsequent years.
	2 Data downloaded from State Veterinary Service database on 13 July 2004.
	3 Provisional data extracted from National Statistics published on 23 June 2004. Subject to change as more data become available.

Hazardous Waste Disposal

Lord Rotherwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have examined the possibility of disposing of hazardous waste from public bodies by using their own land to create one or more hazardous waste sites.

Lord Whitty: Waste management, including the operation of landfill sites, is a private sector industry in the UK and the Government see no reason to change this approach.

Badger and Deer Carcasses

Lord Rotherwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many badger carcasses have been collected by, or handed in to, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' Wildlife Units in (a) Cornwall; (b) Devon; (c) Dorset; (d) Gloucestershire; (e) Herefordshire; (f) Worcestershire; and (g) Shropshire; and
	How many of the badger carcasses that have been collected, by or handed in to, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' Wildlife Units in (a) Cornwall; (b) Devon; (c) Dorset; (d) Gloucestershire; (e) Herefordshire; (f) Worcestershire; and (g) Shropshire have been tested for tuberculosis; and what were the results.

Lord Whitty: The table below shows the number of badger carcasses collected, and post-mortemed, by county as part of the Road Traffic Accident survey, up to 22 July 2004.
	
		Table: RTA Badger Carcasses by County
		
			 County Number of carcasses collected Number of carcasses post-mortemed 
			 Cornwall 497 365 
			 Devon 566 495 
			 Dorset 192 161 
			 Gloucestershire 978 732 
			 Hereford 302 216 
			 Worcester 239 198 
			 Shropshire 166 128 
		
	
	The Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB advises that the results of the post-mortem should not be disclosed at present to avoid either encouraging illegal action against badgers or deterring participation in the badger culling trial.

Badger and Deer Carcasses

Lord Rotherwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many carcasses have been collected in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' survey of badger and deer carcasses in the Furness peninsular, Cumbria; and what was the result of the tuberculosis testing on these carcasses.

Lord Whitty: Between 1 January and 5 July 2004, 17 badger carcasses and one deer carcass have been collected for the Furness Peninsular Road Traffic Accident survey.
	The deer carcass and nine badger carcasses were negative for Mycobacterium bovis (the causative organism for bovine tuberculosis). One badger carcass was unsuitable for testing, and we await results for the other seven.

Wild Animals: Enzootic Diseases

Lord Rotherwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their policy on wild animals with enzootic diseases.

Lord Whitty: The Animal Health and Welfare Strategy, published on 24 June 2004, recognises that there may be a legitimate role to play: where there is a risk of zoonotic diseases being transmitted to man, either directly or via vectors, for example, rabies from bats; where wildlife populations may pass on, harbour or recycle diseases of farmed livestock—for example, classical swine fever in wild boar, bovine tuberculosis in badgers and avian influenza in migrating birds; where certain welfare issues arise involving protection from cruelty or the role of rehabilitation and rescue centres; and where disease controls for farmed livestock and other animals affect wildlife.
	The development of the Veterinary Surveillance Strategy, which will collect information from many animal populations, will improve our knowledge in these areas and help identify areas for further research.

Marine Conservation in UK

Lord Eden of Winton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking, or have under consideration, as part of the environmental management of United Kingdom coasts and seas, to introduce areas of high protection so as to restore natural population structures of exploited marine species.

Lord Whitty: We have recently received a report from the Review of Marine Nature Conservation Working Group which makes recommendations to government on possible measures to improve the protection afforded to important marine features and ecosystems, including what use could be made of marine protected areas. The Prime Minister's Strategy Unit recent report on fisheries, Net Benefits, also recommends that an experimental programme of marine protected areas should be developed. The Government will be developing their response to these recommendations in the coming months. The issue of marine protected areas is also being considered through the UK's involvement in the OSPAR Convention.
	In addition, we are currently preparing regulations to extend the application of the Habitats and Birds Directives to the offshore marine area which will allow the designation of sites for species of European importance. We have already identified the Darwin Mounds as a candidate site and through the Common Fisheries Policy the EU have introduced measures to protect the site from damaging fishing activities. To date there are 71 special protection areas for birds and 62 candidate special areas of conservation which contain an inshore marine element.

Household Waste

Lord Trefgarne: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What guidelines exist for local authorities relating to their duties to collect household waste.

Lord Whitty: Local authorities' duties to collect household waste are set out in the Environment Protection Act 1990.
	Guidelines on the classification of waste, what waste should be collected and the charges for the collection of certain items were included in a joint circular from the Department of the Environment, the Welsh Office and the Scottish Office Environment Department published on 21 May 1992 following the coming into force of the Controlled Waste Regulations 1992.
	Guidance on municipal waste management strategies, published in March 2001, sets out the statutory performance standards that local authorities must meet for 2003–04 and 2005–06 in respect of the recycling and composting of household waste. The guidance is on Defra's website.
	Defra began a consultation on 5 July on draft guidance to assist waste collection authorities in implementing the Household Waste Recycling Act 2003 which requires local authorities to collect at least two types of recyclable waste separate from the rest of the household waste they are required to collect by 2010. We hope to publish the guidance before the end of the year. Copies of the Household Waste Recycling Act 2003 and the draft guidance are in the Library and on Defra's website.

Horse Passports

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why value added tax registration was not considered during the setting up of the horse passport scheme.

Lord Whitty: Value added tax (VAT) is specifically a Treasury matter and was, therefore, not included in consultations carried out by this department regarding the proposal to extend the horse passport requirement to all horses.
	However, Customs and Excise is considering representations made to it about the VAT treatment of both the fees for issuing horse passports and the charges for printing passports.
	These matters need to be considered in the context of the EU rules on VAT. Customs will report their findings to Treasury Ministers for further consideration.

Rural Diversification

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have for ensuring that rural diversification is carried out in such a way as to contribute to the character of the countryside and enhance its tranquillity.

Lord Whitty: The planning system is the main mechanism for ensuring that development in the countryside is appropriate to its surroundings. A Written Ministerial Statement was made by my right honourable friend the Minister for Housing and Planning (Mr Keith Hill) on 22 July to the effect that the Government will be publishing a new planning policy statement (PPS7) on sustainable development in rural areas in August. The document strikes a balance between the need to enhance and protect the character and tranquillity of the countryside and the need to support rural economies and communities through diversification. PPS7 will set out clear advice for local planning authorities on setting criteria for acceptable farm or other rural diversification measures. Diversification in respect of tourism and other business is promoted by Defra with partners such as the Regional Development Agency and others, with a careful eye on the three elements of sustainable development:
	1. the environmental (including considerations such as biodiversity, landscape etc);
	2. social issues including the needs of local communities;
	3. economic considerations with a particular focus on disadvantage or underperformance and the needs of lagging rural economies.
	Defra's rural strategy 2004 shows the care with which we seek to integrate and balance these considerations.

Pigswill Local Feeding Ban

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Nature Conservation and Fisheries, Mr Ben Bradshaw MP, on 30 March (HC Deb, 1305W), how many of the 357 respondees to the consultation on the pigswill local feeding ban indicated that compensation should not be paid to those deprived of their livelihood.

Lord Whitty: The consultation document (published 27 March 2001) did not seek views on whether compensation should be paid. Therefore it is unsurprising that none of the respondees indicated that compensation should not be paid.